Rib fracture belts



Nov. 15, 1955 R. E. DAVIS 2,723,664

' RIB FRACTURE BELTS Filed July 51, 1951 IIII IN V EN TOR. lmph 5 0,4;

W,MLZWMDZ4 ATTaENEXS United States Patent 2,723,664 run FRACTURE BELTSRalph E. Davis, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 31, 1951, Serial No. 239,517

1 Claim. (Cl. 128-78) This invention relates to improvements in ribfracture belts.

The invention consists of a rib fracture belt having shoulder strapswith connections to the belt at the rear portions thereof and to thesides of the belt substantially under the arm pits of the wearer. In thepreferred em bodiment of the invention the side connections are disposedsubstantially upon the lateral axis of the wearers body.

Rib fracture belts of the type heretofore available are commonlyprovided with belt buckles, or other anchorages for the shoulder straps,at the front of the belt so that the straps pass directly across thewearers chest. Such belts are not only decidedly uncomfortable to wear,but tend to collapse the rib cage. Accordingly, it is the object of thisinvention to relocate the strap anchorages so that the straps cross atthe rear and pass to buckles beneath the patients arms to hold thepatients shoulders erect and to leave the entire front portion of thechest free of strap pressure.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a belt embodying the invention showndiagrammatically in use.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the belt disassociated from the wearersbody, but substantially in the position it assumes when worn.

In the present description of the invention the belt will be referred toas a rib fracture belt, although it is useful for other purposes, suchas in the treatment of sprains and muscle tears. In fact the belt isuseful whenever it is desired to provide external support for the chest.

The belt comprises a band which is adapted to be worn about the ribs. Inproper position the belt may be high enough to fit snugly under the armpits as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. The portion of the belt whichencircles the wearers chest includes the ends 12 and 13 of the beltwhich are connected by tension straps 11 and buckles 14 which are sewnto belt end 12 and belt end 13, respectively.

Shoulder straps 15 are provided with anchorages at the rear of the back.The straps are desirably crossed at 16 and sewn at 18 to the band 10.The crossed straps 15 extend over the shoulders of the wearer as shownin Fig. 1 and have forward anchorages disposed at the sides Ice of thebelt 10 substantially under the arm pits of the wearer. Despite the factthat the straps extend outwardly from their point of support on theshoulders, they are held securely on the shoulders by reason of the factthat each strap connects to the belt at the opposite side of thepatients body from the shoulder which it traverses.

The lateral anchorages desirably comprise buckles 17 which are disposedsubstantially on the lateral axis A--A of the wearers body but inclinedforwardly as indicated in Fig. 2, to alignment with the straps so thatthe strap tension does not wrinkle the belt. The front portion of thebelt is completely unobstructed by shoulder strap anchorages, and thewearers pectoral areas are free of strap pressure. At the same time thestrap position is such as to hold the shoulders erect. This istherapeutically desirable since it tends to hold the broken bones inproper position instead of tending to collapse the chest.

Desirably, although it is not essential to the invention, I enhance thepatients comfort by providing some elasticity in a manner to permitfreedom of breathing and other bodily movement without sacrifice ofsupport. Circumferential elasticity is assured either by incorporatingan elastic insert at 19 or by the use of elastic webbing for the straps11, or by both of these features. Elasticity over the shoulders isconveniently provided by using elastic tabs 20 to connect the buckles 17to the belt.

My improved belt is comfortable because it provides all desired supportand yet freedom of breathing and other bodily movement; and because nostraps cross the patients breast and no buckles are so located as tocause wrinkling or annoyance. The support provided by the belt not onlyimmobilizes the ribs but, by holding the shoulders erect, tends toprevent rib collapse or overlapping. While it is referred to as arib-fracture belt, it is also used in cases of contusions of the chestwall, intercostal neuralgia, intercostal strain, and pleurisy.

I claim:

A rib fracture belt comprising a chest band and shoulder straps, saidstraps having rear connections with the band at the rear thereof andforward connections directly to the band only at the sides thereof, saidside connections comprising anchorages on the band disposedsubstantially beneath the arm pits of the wearer of the belt, wherebythe wearers chest is relieved of strap pressure, the anchorages areinconspicuous, but the portion of the band across the chest isnevertheless supported from the wearers shoulders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS494,397 Tucek Mar. 28, 1893 507,172 Shelden Oct. 24, 1893 1,672,296Benisch June 5, 1928 2,662,522 Muller Dec. 15, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS378,041 France Sept. 21, 1907

